Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Hosea chapter 3.

Feel the tension in these two chapters. On the one hand, there is the everlasting love of God who decides to be faithful to God’s faithless people; on the other hand, there is divine justice, which requires consequences to continued indifference and rebellion against God. The strategy of God in chapter 3 is to shock the people into fidelity by holding up the image of Gomer, the adulteress wife of Hosea. Just as Hosea takes her back, so does God decide to be faithful. However, if this shock treatment does not work, there are the consequences in chapter 4.

These strong words are to shake us into intimate knowledge of the Lord who alone gives direction to our lives. Otherwise, there will be visited in our own day, verse 6 of chapter 4. It is not about a heady, theological knowledge of which the prophet speaks; it is the intimate knowledge of spouse-to-spouse.

Hosea 3—4

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Awe at the goodness of God 3:5

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In this season we read Hosea; in the 9th week, we read Lamentations 3.

For the next several weeks, the Firestarters will be from the original version of this program. For these Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and the reading.

Jesus, the grain of wheat, has fallen into the ground and died. Nothing or anyone can stop the resurrection-kingdom that is coming.

Assurance of growth: that is what Jesus promises. However, you must let yourself fall into the ground as Jesus and die, just as the seed in the parable. Then you will bear Kingdom fruit that glorifies the Lord.

A mustard seed is this size of a dot on this page. Yet it becomes a strong tree, offering itself as a home and shade for many birds. That is the way the Kingdom is. Small is big! Even if you see yourself as tiny as a mustard seed, once you are into the ground of your being, which is Christ, no one can stop you!

Mark 4:26-34

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: The Kingdom growing within v.27 

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year B, we read from the Gospel of Mark

For the next several weeks, the Firestarters will be from the original version of this program. For these Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Numbers 6:22-26.

Infidelity in marriage is sacrilegious because it is a reflection of the infidelity of God’s people to the Lord. God’s covenant is as a marriage. Think of it: the God of the universe invites his people to marry God. Keep this in mind as you read the strong ordeal that a woman suspected of infidelity must undergo. You will read about the Nazirite vow; recall that you are to be separate from all that is unholy and profane. This vow is one of the ways in which a person consciously and deliberately lived apart for God in one’s daily habits.

How do your habits demonstrate that you are living for God alone, as the spouse of your soul? Memorize the blessing in verses 24 to 26. Bless your family as you do.

Numbers 5:11—6:27

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Naso (Census) 
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.

Numbers 4:21—7:89

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information